RACING stars are predicting spectacular action in the Australian Supercross Championship grand final at Jimboomba on Saturday.
Looking at the track on Thursday, five times Australian SX1 supercross champion Dan Reardon said there would be some thrilling action.
Reardon, who hails from Mount Nathan, is in second place ahead of the weekend’s event.
“Anything’s possible; there’s going to be some close racing because the points are pretty close especially the guys behind me,” he said.
United States superstar and 2016 ASX champion Justin Brayton said was hoping to win his race.
“I won round one at Jimboomba last year and the previous round here, so it’s been two out of two,” he said.
“I love the vibe here, the track is really good and the fans are awesome.”
Brayton hoped to win his race and the series, in which he has an 18 point lead.
His aspirations were thwarted by a first turn pile-up in the final at round four in Sydney last weekend.
“The first night at Sydney last weekend was tough to accept as I felt confident and had good speed, but the first turn crash in the final left the bike a little twisted and I rode as well as I could to finish eighth and salvage some points,” Brayton said.
“Thankfully the second night in Sydney went a lot better and I raced with the championship in mind and finished third and opened my points lead.”
Brayton said it was his second year in Australia for the supercross series.
“I have brought my family over – I have a three-year-old daughter and a three-month-old son – and we really enjoy the Australian lifestyle and the racing here.
“The demographics are smaller here, but globally Australia is the next best to the United States for supercross.”
Junior champion in 2016 Tyler Darby, of NSW, said he was ready for a tight race.
“I am leading the championship by one point,” he said.
“There is a lot of pressure and my nerves are up.
“With people watching you don’t want to make mistakes.
Darby said the rain before the event should make for good racing.
Mount Cotton’s Nathan Crawford said he hoped to finish in the top five.
“I would be stoked if I got on the podium,” he said.
Crawford said the rain during the week would give the track more traction.
“It’s good racing here at Jimboomba and the atmosphere is good.
“I also enjoy riding close to home in front of my friends and family.”
Event organiser Scott Bannan said the new track layout featured north-south and east-west track lanes, giving fans on all sides of the venue a feast of viewing options.
“All the stops are coming out as this weekend is set to be our biggest event ever at Jimboomba X-Stadium,” he said.
The Australian Supercross Championship is a six-round national championship series making it the biggest motorsport series in Australia behind the V8 Supercars and the biggest supercross series in the world behind the United States’ premier motocross series.
Premier SX1 (450cc) and SX2 (250cc) championships are to be decided at the event.
Visit jimboombaxstadium.com.au for details about the event and to buy tickets.